Bombardier Learjet 31

Overview

The Bombardier Learjet 31 (and its upgraded variant, the Learjet 31A) is the definitive “hot rod” of the light corporate jet world: a design from the early 1990s that mated the proven Learjet 35/36 fuselage to the larger “Longhorn” delta-fin wing of the Learjet 55, without tip tanks. The result is an aircraft with exceptional climb performance and runway access that owners describe as a pilot’s airplane: it prioritises raw handling and short-field performance over cabin volume or transcontinental range. The 31A introduced the EFIS-equipped Bendix/King avionics suite and aerodynamic refinements; both variants share the 51,000 ft ceiling and Honeywell TFE731-2 turbofan power. Around 246 airframes were built across the run before Bombardier closed production in 2003.

For the GA buyer, the Learjet 31 sits in a bracket where short-haul speed and climb matter more than cabin volume. Against its closest direct competitor, the Beechjet 400, the 31A trades a smaller cabin for materially better climb, ceiling, and runway performance. Against its big-brother Learjet 60, it gives up the stand-up cabin and longer range but acquires for substantially less and operates at meaningfully lower fuel burn. The decision against this type usually comes down to cabin and range: 1,250 nm and a 4‘4” cabin are the limiting factors, not performance.

Key Features for GA Buyers

• Unmatched climb performance. With a sea-level climb rate exceeding 5,000 fpm, the Learjet 31 reaches its 51,000 ft service ceiling faster than almost any other civil aircraft, putting it above weather and most commercial traffic on every mission.
• Runway agility. The “Longhorn” wing area provides excellent low-speed handling, enabling operation from runways around 3,500 ft. That is short enough to access regional fields that bracket-competitive jets cannot use.
• Light-jet speed. A 456-knot (Mach 0.81) high-speed cruise places the 31A among the fastest aircraft in its weight class, modern or otherwise.
• TFE731-2 economics. The Honeywell TFE731-2 turbofan offers 4,200 hr TBO and acceptable hot-section costs for the era; parts and overhaul shops remain well-supported through the Honeywell network.

Trade-offs

• Range limitations. Unlike the Learjet 35/36, the 31 carries no tip tanks (preserving the aerodynamic benefits of the Longhorn wing), so range is restricted to roughly 1,250 nm. This is a short-to-mid sprinter, not a cross-country endurance jet.
• Cabin size. The cross-section is inherited from the original Learjet: 4 ft 11 in wide and 4 ft 4 in high. Six to eight passengers fit, but headroom is limited and standing is not possible.
• Baggage. External baggage capacity is constrained compared with newer designs, which becomes a real planning factor on fully loaded trips.
• Two-pilot operation. Like all Learjets in this lineage, the 31 is two-pilot certificated. Owner-operator economics must include a full second crew or contract pilot.

See Also

• Bombardier Learjet 35/36 – the fuselage donor and immediate predecessor, with tip tanks and longer range. Compare
• Bombardier Learjet 55 – the “Longhorn” wing donor and stand-up-cabin step-up. Compare
• Bombardier Learjet 60 – the next-generation step-up, PW305A turbofans and a true mid-size cabin. Compare
• Bombardier Learjet 25 – the vintage CJ610 sibling that established the “hot rod” identity. Compare
• Beechjet 400 / T-1 Jayhawk – the closest direct competitor, with a wider cabin and slower climb. Compare